The five orangutan cubs rescued from Baleshwar forest earlier this week are in good health and under care at Nandankanan Zoological Park, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Prem Kumar Jha informed on Friday.
“Our first priority in such cases is always to save the animal’s life. The five orangutans who arrived here a few days ago are in perfect health and are receiving complete medical treatment,” Jha told the media. He added that the animals are gradually being helped to adapt to their new environment at Nandankanan.
A decision on whether the orangutans will be sent back to their country of origin or remain at the zoo will be taken later. Meanwhile, a joint investigation by the Special Task Force (STF), Baleshwar Forest Department, and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) is underway to determine their origin and how they reached Odisha.
Officials suspect the orangutans may have been smuggled into the state from outside India, as the species is not native to the country.
